Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Gloucester
59 km²
Daily life in Gloucester is shaped by a population that is far older than the national average, with many retirees and a strong First Nations presence. It is a quiet regional hub where half of all homes are owned outright, creating a stable but low-income environment. With few children and a typical resident aged 55, the community feels more like a retirement setting than a growing town. This creates a distinct character where independence and volunteering are common, but access to high-paying work is limited.
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The typical resident is 55, making the area far older than the rest of Australia. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 34.9% of the people here, which is far above the national figure of 17.2%. This older demographic helps explain why there are far fewer children under 15 compared to the state average.
Most residents were born in Australia, and only 7.8% were born overseas, which is far below the state and national figures. Those with overseas roots most commonly cite English, Scottish, or Irish ancestry.
English is the dominant language, with 93.5% of people using it at home. Only 1.7% of residents use another language, a figure far below the national average of 22.3%.
Christianity is the most common affiliation at 58.6%. Those with no religion make up 34.4%, which is well below the national figure of 38.9%.
Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 31.4% of residents completing Year 12, compared to 58.8% nationally. Only 10.2% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the state average.
Typical weekly household income is $985, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. Very few people earn high wages, with only 6.2% of households making $3,000 or more a week.
Health needs are high in this community, with 38.8% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is far above the national figure of 27.7%, and 9.1% of residents need help with daily activities.
Volunteering is common, with 20.3% of people pitching in, well above the national figure of 14.1%. Residents are also more likely to provide unpaid care compared to most areas.
First Nations people make up 8.5% of the population, which is well above the national average of 3.2%. The typical personal income for this group is $551, about the same as the national figure.
Homes are smaller than usual, with only 2.1 people per household. About 34% of people live alone, a figure well above the state average, while one-parent families are also much more common here.
Home ownership is very high, with 50.0% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%. Most people live in separate houses, and typical weekly rent is $275, well below the national average.
Most people rely on cars, as only 0.4% of workers commute by public transport. Working from home is also rare here, at 9.4%, which is far below the national figure of 21.0%.
The area has seen some movement, with 38.5% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 5.3% of the population, which is well below the national average.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas, at 43.7%. The unemployment rate is 5.6%, which is about the same as the state and national figures.
The area is somewhat walkable, though only 56.9% of homes have a 15-minute-city walkshed. Residents have good access to parks, but are far less likely to be within a 15-minute walk of groceries or schools than the state average.